"Detroit, Michigan," part of his new "Rebel Soul" album, is actually modeled on a decades-old tune, dusted off and transformed by Rock into a modern hometown anthem.

Rock's version means belated pay dirt for the original tune's surviving writer, Mack Rice. He's tickled that one of Detroit's reigning stars has embraced a song written nearly half a century ago and forgotten for nearly as long.

"The guy is good," said Rice, 79. "I've never met him, but I love his style."

Until now, the song's origins were murky, buried amid the countless tracks churned out during the heyday of the Detroit record business. Recorded in 1964 with a rookie singer who went by Ronnie Love, the single was released by D-Town Records, one of many small labels operating in Motown's shadow.

"It sold maybe 100 copies," recalled Melvin Davis, a veteran of the Detroit R&B scene who witnessed the song's making. "It wasn't a hit, but it did achieve some airplay around town. And then it just sat around unseen all these years."

Rock, who shares writing credit on the new version, has significantly revamped it, lending a touch of rock sizzle and lyrical nods to figures such as Eminem and Bob Seger. He's also widened the scope, calling out to Memphis, Texas and Nashville before declaring Detroit top of the music kingdom.

In its original hands, the song had a different civic boast in mind.

"It was a tribute to Detroit's women," said Rice. "Our beautiful girls."

Rice -- best known by his stage name, Sir Mack Rice -- has certainly enjoyed his share of prime-time success, reaping songwriting royalties from some of R&B's biggest classics. His credits include "Mustang Sally," made famous by Wilson Pickett, and "Respect Yourself," a top five smash for both the Staple Singers and Bruce Willis.

But "Detroit, Michigan" is an unexpected feather in the cap for Rice, who moved from Detroit last year to Bloomfield Hills.

He wasn't aware that Rock had a version in the works -- the song's rights have changed hands several times, and are now owned by Rock's publisher -- but as a co-writer, Rice will earn royalties nonetheless. "Rebel Soul," released this week, looks set to debut at No. 3 nationally with first-week sales of about 180,000, Hits magazine reported Wednesday.

"People have been coming up this week, telling me about this Kid Rock song. I'm thinking, 'What the hell? How'd he get hold of that?'" said Rice. "I'm proud to have him on board."

Rice said his memories about the song are mostly lost to time. Not so for Davis, part of Rice's tight-knit group of musical buddies in the '60s.

Several of those friends were gathered one night in 1964 at D-Town's house studio on Detroit's west side when Rice concocted the hook and lyrics on a lark.

"The musical track for the song had already been recorded," Davis said. "It just didn't have words."

Within 15 minutes, Rice had a finished composition. Also credited as writers were the late Tony Clarke and Clara Belle Williams, though Davis said their roles were limited.

"It wasn't a throwaway, exactly," Davis said. "But it was a spontaneous creation."

D-Town soon opted to record the tune with aspiring singer Ron Dunbar, using the stage name Ronnie Love. Dunbar's singing career was a bust, but his music career wasn't: He wound up producing and writing with the likes of Holland-Dozier-Holland and George Clinton, and won a Grammy Award in 1971 for Clarence Carter's "Patches."

"Detroit, Michigan" is one of Kid Rock's personal favorites on the new album. In "leaving my fingerprints all over" the old song, he said, he finally made the Detroit theme he always wanted.

"It makes me feel good," Rock said. "There's nothing like putting that track on when I'm feeling good driving through the city, or being out on the river."

As for Rice? He's just pleased to have a role in another hit.

"It's not the money you'll make," he said, "but just the popularity it will get to live a long time."